Vikings – Page 52 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Chase Eagles & No. 1 Seed

Posted on December 5, 2022December 5, 2022 by David Shama

The Vikings have the second-best record in the NFC at 10-2. The Eagles, 11-1, would have a first round bye if the playoffs started today.

The best record and No. 1 seed ensures home field advantage in the postseason, up until the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Not having to play an opening playoff game could be opportune for the Vikings if key injuries are an issue and an extra week of rehab is meaningful. Certainly having all playoff games at U.S. Bank Stadium would be a big edge.

The Vikings’ dynamic passing offense has the best chance of excelling in a controlled climate. An outdoor setting, with extreme weather conditions possible in January, is not desirable. Then, too, the eardrum rattling noise in U.S. Bank Stadium is disruptive for opposing teams’ communications and can fuel adrenaline rushes in the Vikings.

The teams having the best records in the AFC and NFC, with their first-round byes, need to win only two games to reach the Super Bowl. The other 12 playoff teams must earn wins in the Wild Card, Divisional and Conference rounds. If after the regular season ends the Eagles have the best record in the NFC, and the Vikings second best, Minnesota could only have home field advantage for the conference championship game if Philadelphia was eliminated from the playoff field.

The Eagles’ next three games are on the road against the 7-4-1 Giants, 3-10 Bears and 9-3 Cowboys. Then they finish the regular season at home with the 4-8 Saints and Giants. That could be a more “slippery road” than the Vikings’ final five-game regular season assignment.

The Vikings have the 5-7 Lions in their way Sunday in Detroit. A win keeps the Vikings at only two losses and clinches the NFC North Division title. The game, though, might be a struggle, with the Lions having won four of their last five. In September, playing at home, the Vikings hung on to win 28-24.

It’s been a shake-your-head in disbelief season for the Vikings who have won nine one-score games. After the date in Detroit, they will try to continue their magical ride with home games against the 4-8-1 Colts and Giants, before closing the season at the 5-8 Packers and at the Bears.

If the Vikings and Eagles finish with identical records, Philadelphia would have a bye and home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs because of a 24-7 win over Minnesota earlier in the season.

Worth Noting

Bad look: Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert being ejected Saturday night early in the second quarter for tripping the Thunder’s Kenrich Williams. With the Wolves already missing their other big man star, Karl-Anthony Towns, Gobert needed to play all four quarters to give Minnesota its best chance to win. Instead, the Wolves lost another game to a mediocre opponent while often appearing unfocused.

Bad look 2: Wolves bench players laughing late in the game as the team tried to overcome a deficit in the 135-128 loss.

Before the game Wolves coach Chris Finch described Gobert as a “great professional” who has been an asset in his first season in Minnesota since being acquired in a controversial trade last summer with the Jazz. “…All signs are good, you know,” Finch said. “Have some normal growing pains, some of them we expected, some of them we didn’t. We didn’t know what to expect so we’ve just been working through that.”

The Wolves have a versatile defender in third-year forward Jaden McDaniels who can guard the two, three and four positions. With Towns unavailable at the four spot for awhile because of his calf injury, Finch is glad to have McDaniels as a defender. “I think we’ll see him play all over, the two thru the four for us,” Finch said.

Anthony Edwards, the Wolves third year guard who is No. 19 in NBA scoring at 23 points per game, consistently frustrates defenders with both his outside shooting and attacks on the hoop. “So you gotta go up there and play him high because he can shoot, and then you gotta be able to kind of contain him in between the free throw line and the rim because otherwise it’s a launch pad,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

Chet Holmgren, the Minneapolis native who is missing his rookie season with the Thunder following foot surgery, was out on the Target Center court before the game shooting. He was making a succession of long range shots while wearing basketball shoes. The 7-foot-1, 190-pound Holmgren still has a similar physique to when he was in high school two years ago.

Daigneault said the staff has engaged Holmgren with “systematic stuff” to keep him up to date on Thunder schemes. ”…Fortunately, he’s just a junkie so he loves everything about the game. So his engagement level throughout this process has been very impressive.”

It will be interesting to see if former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer remains an analyst for Deion Sanders now that Sanders is leading Colorado. Also, former Gophers’ head coach Tim Brewster, a member of Sanders’ staff at Jackson State, is headed to Boulder, per Footballscoop.com.

Dino Babers, coach of the 7-5 Syracuse team the Gophers will play in the Pinstripe Bowl December 29, has a 36-48 record with the Orange and could be on the hot seat next fall. He was hired by Mark Coyle when Coyle was athletic director at Syracuse.

Coyle, the Minnesota AD now, hired the Gophers’ P.J. Fleck who has an impressive road record as head coach. In Minnesota’s last 23 away games the program is 17-6 (.739), including two bowl wins. That is the best 23-game stretch away from home in program history (began with a 37-15 win at Wisconsin on November 24, 2018). Since then the only Big Ten team with more wins or a higher win percentage away from home is Ohio State at 21-3 (.875).

Fleck is 3-0 in bowl games and the Gophers have won five consecutive postseason games.

With the Big Ten already committed to events in Minneapolis, it appears likely that U.S. Bank will host the conference championship football game this decade. Led by Minnesota Sports and Entertainment executive Wendy Blackshaw, the conference has agreed to have its women’s (2023) and men’s (2024) basketball championships at Target Center. The Big Ten office, headed by former Minnesotan Kevin Warren, held its basketball media days in Minneapolis earlier this fall.

The most challenging “get” on the local college sports landscape will be landing the national championship football game. The 2022 game was in Indianapolis, setting a precedent for northern cities.

Minnesota Sports and Entertainment is forming a MSNE Council and has sent invitations to potential founding members. Membership includes a long list of perks and opportunities to benefit the community. Annual cost is $5,000.

Bill Lester, the former Metrodome executive, has a 12-year-old grandson fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Caffrey’s dad and mom, Bill and Michelle, founded Rare Disease Renegades (RDR) to fund research into DMD and other rare diseases. Funds raised not only benefit Caffrey but also others afflicted with rare conditions. RDR has been running an auction of interest to Minnesota sports fans. https://www.32auctions.com/runrenegaderun

St. Paul native and baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris, along with Twins president Dave St. Peter and Star Tribune columnist LaVelle Neal, were part of the 16-member Contemporary Era Committee that Sunday voted Fred McGriff into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were among those who didn’t receive enough votes for enshrinement.

The Pohlad brothers, Jim, Bob and Bill, are being recognized by Twin Cities Business as 2022 Buinsess People of the Year for their efforts in rejuvenating downtown Minneapolis and concerns for poverty and racial justice. Jim, 69, has turned over his Twins leadership role to nephew Joe Pohlad, 40.

The Wild has been promoting no ticket fees on remaining games. The team is averaging 17,762 fans or 98.9 percent of capacity, per Hockeyreference.com.

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Justin Jefferson Stays Humble in Spotlight

Posted on December 3, 2022December 3, 2022 by David Shama

Justin Jefferson is receiving a tsunami of recognition and praise but the 23-year-old wide receiver has his ego in check, according to Vikings teammates.

The third-year LSU alum is a game changer, and although no NFL wide receiver has ever been named league MVP, Jefferson’s resume is deserving of consideration. This week he was recognized as the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. And just days ago his name led all NFL players in fan voting for the 2023 Pro Bowl.

In November Jefferson’s 480 receiving yards led the NFC and he had the second-most receptions in the conference with 29. With the Vikings going 3-1 during the month, Jefferson’s 480 receiving yards was second in the NFL only to the 487 of the Raiders’ Davante Adams.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Jefferson had eight receptions of at least 20 yards during the month, the second-most in the NFL behind Adams. He led the NFC in yards from scrimmage with 490, over 100 more than Lion Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 385, who ranked second. This is the second time Jefferson has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Month.

Jefferson was also named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Bills November 10. In a Minnesota overtime win for the ages, he had 10 receptions for a career-high 193 receiving yards. That total is the most in an NFL game this season.

“He’s always played at a really crazy high level,” Harrison Smith told Sports Headliners. The Viking veteran safety is in his 11th NFL season and appreciates not only Jefferson’s talents but his character, too.

“…He’s such a big superstar (but) he doesn’t have like a standoffish personality. He likes to just be one of the guys.”

When tight end T.J. Hockenson joined the Vikings in early November after a trade with the Lions, Jefferson welcomed him. “He gets to know everybody. He builds a relationship with everybody,” Hockenson said. “It’s cool to be on the same team as him and be in the same locker room.”

Justin Jefferson image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Teammates describe Jefferson as a friendly, smiling, talkative and energetic person who is having so much fun with the game he loves. “He is one of the best people I’ve been around,” Hockenson said. “Just very fun-loving guy. Loves the game. It’s like he gets to go out at recess every day when we step onto the field. …”

Amen to that says running back Alexander Mattison. “Just a kid having fun, playing the game. And he hasn’t changed his ways since he came in (the NFL). Just that kid in love with the game and it’s rubbed off on us.

“I think he keeps some of the older guys…everyone around him, keeps everyone young. So yeah, his energy is always having fun, laughing, and enjoying the game, enjoying the life we live.”

Fans, not just in Minnesota, but across the country are on board with Jefferson. The NFL announced on Monday that his 90,313 votes leads all players in balloting for the 2023 Pro Bowl Game. He is in prestigious company with other top vote getters like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, followed by RB Saquon Barkley of the Giants and WR Tyreek Hill from the Dolphins.

Some may consider Hill the NFL’s top wide receiver but there are plenty of observers who think Jefferson deserves that spot. The Jefferson hysteria, that includes raves over his ability to make the most difficult of catches, has led to speculation he will one day rank with the greatest ever to play at his position.

Mattison was told Jefferson is having his name mentioned in the same breath with legendary receiver Jerry Rice, considered by many the best ever WR. “It’s crazy to think about, just within three years to be having these conversations. But you just kind of take a step back and look at the facts,” Mattison said. “And they’re realistic conversations to have which is crazy to actually think about. …”

Hockenson knows how revered Jefferson is already. “I think he’s one of a kind. He’s a special player. He’s one of the best to do it in this league. I am sure at the end of this (his career) he’ll be one of the best to do it ever.”

Hill is the NFL’s highest paid receiver, reportedly with a four-deal of $120 million. Jefferson is a lock to receive a new contract from the Vikings in 2023 paying him much more, perhaps over $150 million for five years.

Mattison doesn’t expect the payoff to change his friend. “Somebody like him he’s not going to have that conversation with you (about money)…as humble as he is, but he definitely is well deserving of that.”

Worth Noting

Offensive right tackle Christian Darrisaw (concussion) and tight end Ben Ellefson (groin) have been ruled out for Sunday’s Vikings and Jets game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Smith (ankle) indicated Thursday it’s likely he will play. “It sure seems like it. I don’t know, though. We’re not there yet.”

Fourth-year Vikings center Garrett Bradbury has often been maligned in the past but Pro Football Focus notes the former No. 1 draft choice has given up just two sacks and is responsible for only four penalties in 741 snaps. PFF gives him a respectable grade of 71.

“…With the relationship with Kirk (Cousins), their communication throughout games and in-game has been huge for us,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell. “And I think physically he’s done a lot of good things in the run and pass game, kind of fitting with what we want to do. So, I’m really happy with the type of season Garrett’s had so far, and I’m hoping to continue to just get that consistent play out of him.”

Since Kene Nwangwu’s rookie season of 2021, he leads the league in kickoff return touchdowns with three including Thanksgiving night when he scored on a 97-yard return against the Patriots. The Vikings’ specialist has the third most kickoff return touchdowns in team history behind Cordarrelle Patterson and Percy Harvin, who both had five. Nwangwu is averaging a touchdown every 13.7 return (41 career kick returns).

Disappointing news for Gophers’ fans that record setting senior Mo Ibrahim wasn’t among the three finalists announced this week for the Doak Walker Award recognizing the nation’s best running back. Juniors Chase Brown, Illinois; Blake Corum, Michigan; and Bijan Robinson, Texas; are the finalists.

Many friends and admirers attended the wake in St. Paul this week for legendary former University of St. Thomas and Cretin Derham-Hall baseball coach Dennis Denning, 76, who recently passed away. “The line was out the door to get inside, and I got to the funeral home when it started at 4 p.m. An amazing tribute to coach Denning,” per an email from former Cretin baseball player Bill Robertson.

The Wild gets a stamina challenge this weekend playing Saturday afternoon at home against the Ducks and then facing the Stars in Dallas starting at 2 p.m. Sunday. Former teammate Ryan Suter, 37, has no goals and four points for the Stars who haven’t played a game since Thursday night. The Wild is 8-7-2 in its last 17 games in Dallas.

The Golden Gophers men’s hockey team has outstanding speed on the roster and has scored five or more goals in four of their last five games including 5-0 over the Spartans last night in East Lansing.

Canterbury Park will likely have a later start to the season in 2023 than normal because of redevelopment and improvements in the stable area. The Shakopee racetrack’s expected schedule will be from May 27-September 16, as proposed to the Minnesota Racing Commission.

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‘Committee’ Likely to Replace Mo Ibrahim

Posted on November 22, 2022November 22, 2022 by David Shama

Golden Gophers’ All-American running back Mo Ibrahim, who is the focus of his team’s offensive success, plays his last regular season game Saturday against Wisconsin. Next season who replaces the player coach P.J. Fleck calls “arguably” the greatest running back in school history?

Ryan Burns, the Gopher football authority from GopherIllustrated.com, sees a lot of names potentially in the mix, including Trey Potts and Bryce Williams who both have remaining eligibility but aren’t certain to return. Potts had a devastating injury that caused him to miss most of last season and may have an ongoing health concern, while Williams has been in the program since 2018 but given limited opportunities to play.

Ibrahim has been a workhorse with 277 carries this season in 10 games, including 39 against Iowa last Saturday. Potts and Williams have 90 and 48 carries respectively.

“There’s gonna be a lot of carries up for grabs (next year),” Burns told Sports Headliners. “I just think there’s a lot of ambiguity in terms of who is back (returning), who is not. It wouldn’t surprise me…(if something happens) with Trey Potts or Bryce Williams (not returning), but I think there’s definitely going to be more of a committee next year than there is this year.”

While no one is publicly disclosing what Potts’ injury was last season, Burns described it as “scary.” Of late Potts seems more decisive and running better than earlier in the season. “He’s gotten more…back to form the last few games but I don’t know what he’ll decide to do after the season,” Burns said before last Saturday’s game against Iowa.

Burns doesn’t predict Potts will transfer, but sees that as a possibility for Williams whose other options are remaining a Gopher, or ending his college career. Likely remaining on the running back roster for sure is freshman Zach Evans who after being injured and unavailable earlier in the season has played briefly in one game teasing the potential that made him a coveted recruit coming out of Texas. He ran six times for 29 yards against Northwestern.

“I think the highest upside of those guys on the roster is Zach Evans,” Burns said. “You saw a little flash of it (against Northwestern)…where he’s got a little make you miss in his game. Kind of reminds me a little bit of a David Cobb (former Gopher) type. …”

In the 247Sports recruiting listings for 2023 two of the Gophers’ higher ranked recruits are running backs, Darius Taylor from Walled Lake, Michigan and Marquese Williams of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Both have made verbal commitments and could move up from three-star to four-star status by National Signing Day December 21.

Taylor, who is about 5-11 and 200 pounds, has a late offer from Michigan but paid his own way to attend the Minnesota-Iowa game. “When a recruit spends his way to comeback for a game that’s usually a good sign,” Burns said.

Burns likens Taylor’s power running to former Gopher Ky Thomas, now at Kansas. “He’s more your north-south guy, while Marquese Williams is more your east-west type like a Bucky (Irving now at Oregon) would be. He’s a smaller type of kid (Williams), 5-8, 180. So you have a north-south guy to go with an east -west guy, and then you have Zach Evans who can do maybe a little bit more of both.”

Worth Noting

Ibrahim is Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 263 yards and one touchdown against Iowa whose nationally praised defense has held eight opponents to 10 points or fewer this season. Ibrahim’s rushing yards Saturday led the nation last week and they were also the fourth highest in Minnesota program history. He leads the country in rushing touchdowns (19), rushing yards per game (152.4) and is second in total rushing yards (1,524).

The Gophers are trying to improve their pass catching roster. Former Wisconsin wide receiver Markus Allen, a redshirt freshman who left the Badgers last month, attended the Northwestern game earlier in the month. “They really want to add him,” Burns said of Allen who has contested catch potential.

Minnesota’s passing game has faltered this season and Burns sees a need to recruit two types of receivers. “You need one guy for speed and one guy to catch contested catches. …”

The Gophers could have all their main targets return next season, including No. 1 WR Chris Autman-Bell and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford. “If they can’t find consistency amongst a bunch of guys 21 and older, I don’t know when you can,” Burns said.

Ibrahim had a key fourth quarter fumble in Saturday’s 13-10 loss to Iowa. Fleck said it was only the fourth fumble in 800 carries for Ibrahim who is in his sixth year at Minnesota. “It’s not his fault. No one play loses you the game,” Fleck said.

The Gophers, who like Iowa didn’t have a penalty in the rivalry game, had other key miscues including quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis’ fourth quarter interception and a near interception of an Iowa pass by defensive back Terrell Smith. Despite Minnesota’s eighth consecutive loss to the Hawkeyes, Fleck believes narrow losses in the series indicate his program has “closed the gap” with Iowa in various ways.

During Thanksgiving week, Fleck went into detail about the importance of gratitude. “If you’re grateful for your life, you don’t get to pick what you’re grateful for. You’re either grateful for your life or you’re not—whether it comes from the tragedy or the suffering—you have to be grateful for those things. And that’s what’s so hard because we get way down with a loss, we get way up with a win…. I am not saying I am happy we lost but there are so many lessons that come out of it.”

Fleck wouldn’t say what starters may not be able to play against Wisconsin but word is senior quarterback Tanner Morgan, who has missed the last two games, is likely out again.

Iowa is known as a development program but it’s interesting that the Hawkeyes had 45 former players on NFL rosters as of early November. Since 2010, 50 Hawkeyes have been drafted. The Gophers have 16 players in the NFL as of this month.

Daniel House

Gophersguru.com’ Daniel House told Sports Headliners a key for the Gophers Saturday at Wisconsin will be forcing the Badgers into passing situations, an area they struggle with. House excels at crunching data and said numbers show the Gophers are efficient against the pass. He also believes Minnesota needs to make four or five important pass plays on offense.

House predicts a 21-17 Minnesota win. “I think the first team that gets to 20 points will win. I do believe there will be more points scored in this game than the Iowa-Minnesota game.”

The Vikings, whose offensive line was ravaged by the Cowboys in Sunday’s 40-3 loss and gave up seven sacks, are expected to be without standout left tackle Christian Darrisaw who is in concussion protocol. The Patriots, who play the Vikings Thursday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, will be another challenge for Minnesota’s line that will be likely playing with two inexperienced starters in Blake Brandel, Darrisaw’s replacement, and right guard Ed Ingram who has struggled against pressures all season.

Injured Patriots center David Andrews is expected to miss Thursday night’s game. In passing situations, House said, that could offer opportunity for Vikings’ pass rushing specialist Za’Darius Smith to pressure New England QB Mac Jones.

“He (Jones) completes 75 precent of his passes from a clean pocket and that number drops to 45 percent when under pressure,” House said. “He also has five interceptions and just one touchdown in those situations. “

House, who does in depth analysis on the Vikings, thinks Minnesota will “get it together” in the second half and win 24-10.

Bethel senior quarterback Jaran Roste is the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Saint John’s senior defensive lineman Michael Wozniak is MIAC Defensive Player of the Year. Gustavus senior defensive lineman Zachary Jakes is the Mike Stam Award winner, presented to the top lineman in the conference, and Bethel first-year defensive back Devin Williams is the inaugural MIAC Football Rookie of the Year. Saint John’s head coach Gary Fasching is the John Gagliardi Coach of the Year Award. All MIAC awards are nominated by and voted on by MIAC head football coaches.

The NFL Films segment featuring Shakopee’s Dick Jonckowski’s debuts tomorrow night (Wednesday) on Fox Sports. Jonckowski relives moments from the famous 1975 Vikings-Cowboys game at Metropolitan Stadium. Drew Pearson, who caught the famous “Hail Mary” touchdown pass in the final minute to give the Cowboys a 17-14 fourth quarter win in the NFC title game, is featured in the film, too.

Jonckowski was a field usher at Met Stadium for that game and on a controversial catch by Pearson before the “Hail Mary” he kicked the Cowboys’ wide receiver on the sidelines.

“I was frustrated,” Jonckowski told Sports Headliners earlier this year. “I just kind of (gave) a sissy kick. I kicked the bottom of Drew Pearson’s shoe which really wasn’t much, but (Dallas coach) Tom Landry’s wife saw it from the stands. After the game was over, she called Pete Rozelle, who was then the commissioner.”

The segment will also air December 5 at 9:30 p.m. on the NFL Network.

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